Racing: Home victory would be sweet

Top jumps jockey Jonathan Riddell would love nothing more than to win a feature jumping race on his backdoor step.

In an illustrious career riding over fences, the Manawatu Steeple and Awapuni Hurdle have so far eluded him, mainly through no fault of his own.

Both races are back on the calendar with increased prizemoney at the Manawatu Racing Club's meeting at Awapuni tomorrow after a lapse of four years. Riddell stands a royal chance of winning them both.

The Manawatu club has not held the two feature jumping races since 2001.

However, the decision by Auckland to shift its Great Northern jumps carnival from June to early September allowed Manawatu to swap dates with Otaki-Maori and race this Saturday instead of a week later.

That allowed Manawatu to programme their two feature jumping races again, which means they will once again be ideally placed to provide lead-ups to the $40,000 Hawkes Bay Steeple and $25,000 Hawkes Bay Hurdle on July 2, with the $50,000 Wellington Steeple and $40,000 Wellington Hurdle a fortnight later.

Said Riddell: "It's a bit hard to win them when they're not there, but I'd love to pick up one of them, if not both, on home turf."

He had rides in both the Manawatu Steeple and Awapuni Hurdle back in 2001, finishing fourth on Freebee High (steeple) and third on Bodle (hurdle).

Tomorrow he is reunited with the Paul Nelson-trained No Hero in the Manawatu Steeple, the pair having combined for an impressive Hawkes Bay Steeple win a year ago.

They were not to be seen again that winter after the Heroicity grey went amiss for a second time.

The 8-year-old has had two runs on the flat in a new preparation this year, finishing second at Trentham (2400m) last Saturday in the hands of Riccarton jockey Corey Argue.

"I actually rode No Hero and other members of Paul Nelson's team in a jumping school at Hastings before the Waikato Steeplechase meeting last month," Riddell said.

"He [No Hero] went really well and I'd love to win the Manawatu Steeple on him because he's such a good jumper. It's just a pity he's so unsound because he could be anything by now."

Riddell is staying loyal to South Island trainer Kevin Hughes when he rides Black Eagle in the Awapuni Hurdle.

"I told Kevin more than a month ago that I would ride the horse in the Awapuni Hurdle after I won on the gelding at Riccarton," Riddell said.

"Paul [Nelson] has two horses in the hurdle on Saturday [Just Swagger and Survey], but I didn't want to let Kevin down because I've ridden a lot of winners for him in the South Island. In saying that, I think Black Eagle will be a very good ride, and Kevin rates him as well.

"I think Kevin has thoughts of winning the Wellington Hurdle with him, but this will be the horse's acid test on Saturday."

Riddell got on the horse through someone else's misfortune.

"He was ridden by Michael Campbell in his maiden hurdle win at Riverton over Easter but, a month later at the same meeting, Michael broke his arm when Black Eagle threw him at the last fence. I got on next start and won on him at Riccarton. He goes all right and could be a surprise package on Saturday."